The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-08-05
wH,TsWAsHINo TREES.
Remarks by Prof Riley Before the n
York State FaPmera.

Remarks by Prof. Riley Before the New
York State Farmers.
1 wish to say few words about
whitewashing trees. In Washington the
authorities. though they have neye,
given any attention to the subject, have
the idea that withdrawing frees trees
from insects. In reality there is only
one Of the four troublesome insects
that can in any way be affected by il
and that is the tussock moth. So far
as the whitewashing reaches a certain
number of the cocoOns will be lOOsened
and exposed to the rains or rubbed Of
by the washing, and it may be possible
that the lime will affect them, though
there is no evidence that such is the
case. But it is of no earthly use
against the bag worm or elm-leaf beetle
or the web worm, and if it must be
done at all. there il no reason why the
authorities should not at least color the
lime SO as to cause it to resemble Lit.
tie more nearly the color of the trunk.
of The tree. Of course, will not dis.
cuss the matter from an aesthetic stand.
point. yet while to some it may not DO
unpleasant to see lot of trees white
washed. for one do not like to see it. ]
may even add that so far as the insects
l have mentioned are concerned, it is
an injury.
Every one of those insects, with the
exception of the first, has number Of
enemies and parasites, many of which
have been discovered but very re-
Gently. For example. up to the pres
ent year no parasites were described OF
recorded as affecting the web worm.
but I now know Of quite number.
Among such enemies there is the so
called wheel-bug (Prionotus Crista:xsI
u creature that is best characterized by
q peculiar serratc cog-wheel on the
back of its head. and that is further pc
culiar in using turpentine in cement
ing together its eggs. This creature
destroys the caterpillars both of the
tussock-moth and the web worm. Then
there is the parasite, Perilitus COM
mun,s, an interesting point about
which is that it forms n little brown
cocoon, attached by silken thread.
and these cOcOOns are sometimes SD
numerous on the outside of the trunk
of the trees which have been injured
by this web worm that the trees pre-
sent a very marked appearance.
Another point I want to make en-
assam: is that the English sparrow has
.een noticed to peck away at these CO.
coons of the parasites, but never to at
tack the caterpillar itself. The white
washing does harm in destroying some
of these parasites. and also in destroy
ing the egg masses Of spiders that also
attack the caterpillars.
As to tree boxes. while these may b
necessary on account of the injary that
without them, horses ard other ami
mails. as well as mischievious boys.
would infiict upon the trees. at least
until these have attained . certain
size. they are always harmful They
injure the trees by chatting and by tho
pressure of the 5andages. and when OF
wood. as they are in the city Of WASH
ington, they are particularly injurious.
because they serve as nidi for different
insects II the laws can not be mazda
20 strict as to prevent injury frusn
horses or lads then would advise The
ne Of round iron boxeA-N Il World